Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) using low dose naltrexone (LDN)

J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2013 Jun;8(3):470-6. doi: 10.1007/s11481-013-9451-y. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

Abstract

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a neuropathic pain syndrome, which involves glial activation and central sensitization in the central nervous system. Here, we describe positive outcomes of two CRPS patients, after they were treated with low-dose naltrexone (a glial attenuator), in combination with other CRPS therapies. Prominent CRPS symptoms remitted in these two patients, including dystonic spasms and fixed dystonia (respectively), following treatment with low-dose naltrexone (LDN). LDN, which is known to antagonize the Toll-like Receptor 4 pathway and attenuate activated microglia, was utilized in these patients after conventional CRPS pharmacotherapy failed to suppress their recalcitrant CRPS symptoms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Naltrexone / administration & dosage*
  • Pain Measurement / methods
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Naltrexone